Dental apparatus



May l10, 1932. A, F, P|EPER 1,858,056

DENTAL APPARATUS Filed July 2, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l May l0, 1932. A. F.PIEPER 1,858,056

DENTAL APPARATUS Filed July 2, 1928 2 Sheets'-Sheet 2 INVENTOR B: :ms er@ATTORNEYS Patented May l0, 1932 ALPHONSE E. rlErnn, orV EocHEs'rEE, NEWYom:

'DENTAL APPA'EA'rU-s;

Application leiJuly 2,1928. Serial No. 289,744.

A The present invention relates to dental apparatus and moreparticularly to a mouth spraying device or the like, to be used fprexample by the dental profession in spraying or flushing the mouth ofthe patient, as required under different conditions in-the treatment orcare of the teeth. One object of the inven tion is to provide animproved device of this class which will be highly efficient andconvenient to operatel A further object is to provide improved means forcontrolling the flow both of a cold and a warm supply of liquid orfluid-to be employed in the spraying operations.'` U

A further object is to provide improved `means for maintaining the sprayhead with the nozzle thereon in fixed relation with respect to the fluidcontainer when not in use whereby to insure the discharge of all drip-'i pings from the nozzle into a receptacle associated with or supportedby the container.

To thesev and otherends the invention resides in certain improvementsand combinations of parts, all as will be hereinaftermo're fullydescribed, the .novel features being pointed out in the claims at theend of the speciiication. Y

In the drawings:

Figfl is a view in elevation of a spraying device constructed linaccordance with vthe invention and including a heating -unit for theliquid;

Fig. 2 is an elevation as viewed from the `right of Fig. 1 with theheating unit re- .moved;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation showing the valvearrangementfor control ling the discharge both of warm and cold waterAsupplied to the spray head;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 1a-4a of Fig. 3with the valvel in position to connect the liquid holding container withthe spray head;

Fig. 5. is a similar section with. the valve shown in closed position;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 2 with the sprayhead removed from its support; I

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation taken on line -supplied inthe form of aspray arm, and

F1g. 9 is a side view ofthe head shown removed from the casing.

Similar reference numerals -throughout the several views indicate thesame parts.

In the practice of dentistry, it is frequently necessary when filling,the teethto flush or cleanse the mouth with a suitable fluid or liquidwhich ispreferabl ut whic may be merely astream of liquid deliveredunder suitable pressure. In apparatus 'of this kind, it is desirable toprovide for the use of both a cold and a warm stream of fluid or liquidsince both may be required under vvarying conditions of treatment. Wateror other liquid may be used in flushing` or cleansing the mouth and thepresent apparatus is designed in a manner to permit of a quick changefrom liquid of one temperature to that of another whenever desired.

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents an electrical heatingunit-comprisinga receptacle preferably containing a heating coil andathermostatic control device, not shown, for regulating the degree ofheat required -sagesvl and 16, Figs. 6 and 7. A pipe 17 within thecontainer communicates with the inlet passage 15 and discharges at apoint adjacent the bottom of the container. A supply pipe or conduit 18leads to the passage 15 of the tubular projection 13 and is adapted forconnection with a suitable liquid supply source, not shown, such forexample as the usual water supply whereby the liquid is delivered to thecontainer under pressure. Connected with the tubular projection lfi is avalve casing 19 in which a two-way valve is provided for connectineither the cold orwarm water supply wlth the spray or nozzle head, aswill appear hereinafter, itI

being understood that the c old water does pulling or treating not passthrough the container but throughl a separate conduit leading from asupply source under pressure to the valve casing. The casing 19 carriesa vertically disposed tapered valve 20 fitting in a correspondinglytapered bore in the casing as indicated in Fig. 7. The valve has anoperating stem 21 projecting through a nut 22 screwed into the upper endof the casing and serving'to compress the packing 33 which is supportedby a plate 34 seated on a shoulder 35 of the casing. A spring 36 isinterposed between the platev and valve for holding the latter upon itsseat. The valve is moved to its dierent positions of adjustment by ahandle 37 on the upper end of the stein 21. The valve casing is providedwith and is preferably supported by a lateral extension 38 threaded intothe tubular projection 14 on the container cover 12. A passage 39 in thevalve casing communicates with the outlet passage 16 of the container,as shown in Fig. 6. The valve is provided with a central chamber 40having a laterally extending inlet port 41 communicating with thecontainer through passages 16 and 39 when the valve is linthe positipnshown in Fig. 4.

The cold water supply pipe or iexible conduit 42 is connected with thebottom of the valve casing and communicates with the ports 43' and 44 ofthe casing, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The flexible conduit 45 which, under certain conditions, forms acontinuation of the conduit 42 leads from the valve casing and isprovided at its outer end with a spray headV hereinafter described. Theinner end of conduit 45 is connected with a tubular member 47 whichpreferably has its upper end reduced and threaded into the lower end ofthe valve casing 19 for free communication with a transverse passage 48in the latter which in turn connects with the central chamber 49,- atall times in communication with the passages 40 and 41 of the valve 20.A suitable lilter 50 is supported within the tubular member 47 forltering both the warm and cold Water admitted to the ilexible conduit45.

The valve casing 19 is provided at its upper end with a semi-circularshel-likeportion 51 on which is disposed a plate 52 having upwardlyprojecting stop pins 53 in the path of the valve handle 37 and by whichmovement of the latter is limited to its extreme positions ofadjustment. The plate 52 has applied thereto the words Cold, Tepid andOi, as shownin Fig. 6 for* indicating the positions to which the handle37 is moved in order that the vvalve will be in positionV to permiteither the cold or warm water to be used or the cutting off ofthe supplyof both to the spray head. For example, with the valve in the positionshown in Fig. 4, warm water under the pressure in the system will flowfrom the container through pas- .sages 16 and 39 and thence throughpassages 41 and 40 of the valve, downwardly through chamber 49 andpassage 48 into the container 47 and through the i'lter 50 into theflexible tube or conduit 45 leading to the spray head. If, on the otherhand, thc valve is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the warm watersupply will be cut ofi' and cold water will then iiow through pipe 42,passages 43 and 44 and thence through the passages 4l and 40 of thevalve and downwardly through therefrom regardless of the fact that thevalve 20 may be in position to admit either cold or warm water yto theiieXible conduit 45. The valve within thecvlinder 46 is operated bypressing the pivoted handle 54 inwardly toward the cylinder 46 at whichtime the iuid under pressure will flow through the head 55 ofthecylinder and through the nozzle pipe 56 attached thereto all of whichmay be termed the spray head.

The spray head when not in use is supported 'by an arm 57 rigidlyconnected with the container in any suitable manner but preferablyconnected with the cover 12 by a screw 58 extending through the innerend 59 of the arm and threaded into the cover, as shown in Fig. 7.1 Theend 59 of the arm rests upon an upwardly projecting annular boss 60 intowhich extends a closely fitting projection 61 on the portion 59 of thearm. A dowel pin 62 serves to prevent turning of the arm 57 about theaxis of the screw 58- whereby the arm is rigidly held in thepositionshown in Fig. 6. The outer end of the arm is forked to receivethe cylinder head 55, as best shown and the supply conduit 45 connectedtherewith are supported, as shown in Fig. 2. The prongs of the fork atthe outer ends are provided with upwardly projecting portions 66 whichengage-the head 55, as shown in Figs. l and 2, to prevent outwarddisplacement of the same upon the arm. With this arrangement, -it isnecessary to liftthe valve casing or cylinder 46 a slight amount beforethe head 55 with the nozzle thereon can be removed from the fork of thearm.

The cover 12 has a centrally disposed cupshaped recess 67 formed thereinto catch any drippinvs that may discharge from the nozzle whic will beuickly evaporated by the heat supplied by t e, water within thecontainer 11.l The outer end of the nozzle overlies the recess 67 and isfixed relative thereto, since the head 55 is prevented from turning, asdescribed above. Consequently, with the nozzle returned to the positionshown in Fig. 2, all drippings therefrom will be discharged intotherecess of the cover.

In the operation of the present device, the handle 37 will first bemoved to the desired open position, depending on whether or not warm orcold water is to be used. When this has been done, it is only necessaryto remove the spray head from the arm 57, place the nozzle in thepatients mouth and open the outer control or nozzle valve by pressinginwardly on the handle 54. Upon release of the handle, the valve will beautomatically closed and the spray head may then be returned to thenormal inoperative position, shown in Fig. y2.

From the foregoing, it will be seen' that a selective valve is providedfor controlling the supply of warm or tepid water heated within thecontainer as well as the independent supply of cold water'which does notpass through the container. course, independent of the spray head'ornozzle valve and may be closed to prevent either the cold or warm Waterfrom lowing thereto.

The advantage in securing the supporting arm for the spray head agamstmovement is that the nozzle when not in use is always held in the sameposition over the drip cup or receptacle and at sucha point as not tointerfere with the turning of the valve handle 37 to either of its threepositions of adjustment.

I claim as my invention: y

1. In a device of the class described, a closed container having inletand outlet passages for fluid under pressure, a valve casing connectedwith the outlet passage of the container, a flexible tube connected withthe casing and having a'nozzle on its outer end provided with a selfclosing valve, asupply conduit connected with said inlet passage andindependent of said ilexible tube, a second supply conduit connectedwith the casing and a valve within the casing between the ends of saidtube and the second supply conduit adapted in one position to establishcommunication between said ends while closing said outlet passage and inanother position serving to close the second supply conduit and toestablish communication between the tube and outlet passage of thecontainer.

2. In a device of the class described, a

This valve is, ofv

closed container having an inlet for fluid under ressure and an outlet,a valve casing a `iiuid supply conduit connected -with the valve casing,a flexible tube leading from the valve casing having a nozzle at itsouter end, a valve withinv the casing adapted in one position ofadjustment to establish communication between the container outlet andsaid tube and serving in another position of adjustment .to close theoutlet and to establish attac ed tothe outlet side of the container,

communication between the supply conduit outlet, a valve within thecasing, a supply I pipe connected with the valve casing, a ilexible tubeconnected with the casing and having a nozzle on its outer end, saidvalve being arranged in one position to establish communication'betweenthe container outlet and said flexible tube and serving in anotherposition to close the container outlet and to establish communicationbetween said flexible tube and the supply pipe, and a supporting memberfor the nozzle connected with the container. j

4. In a dental spray, the combination of a container provided with aninlet and an out! let for fluid under pressure, a valve casing disposedat one side of the container and connected with said outlet, said casinghaving a iiuid inlet passage for connection with a sup ply conduit andalso having a discharge passage for communicationl with a dischargeconduit and a valve in said casing adaptedA in one position to connectsaid container outlet withrsaid discharge passage and serving in anotherposition to close the container outlet and to connect the inlet passageof the casing with the outlet passage thereof.

5. In a dental spray, the combination of a container having a closurethereon provided with inlet'and outlet passages for fluid underpressure, a valve connected with said outlet passage, a. supply pipeindependent of said inlet passage, alexible tube leading from said valveand having a nozzle thereon, said valve being adjustable to close saidoutlet passage and to establish communication between said tube andsupply pipe, a receptacle` formed in said closure for receiving the dripfrom the nozzle and an arm connected with the closure and arranged tosupport the nozzle with its discharge end over the receptacle.

6. In a dental spray, a container having inlet and discharge passagesfor fluid under zle on the outlet conduit, a valvev within the casinghaving three positions of adjustment,

in on-epof which it connects the outlet conduit with 'said dischargeassage and in another of which it closes t e outlet passage and connectsthe inlet and outlet conduits and :.:ervingin the third position toclose the disterposed between said outlet and the inner end of theflexible tube for establishing communication between the same, saidvalve being adapted in one position to close the outlet and to establishcommunication between said tube and conduit, a support on the containerforthe nozzle independent of said valve anda control valve for thenozzle interposed between the latter and the rst mentioned valve.

8. ln` a dental spray, the combination of hold the nozzle in lixedrelation above the container, a receptacle on the upper end of thecontainer for receiving the drippings from the nozzle and valve meansindependent tof'lsaid arm for controlling the flow of liquid -throughsaid tube.

11. Ina dental spray, the combination of a container having a closedchamber for holding liquid under pressure and provided with an outlet,an electrical heating unit disposed externally of the chamber andarranged to heat the liquid therein, means for connecting the chamberwith a supply of liquid under pressure, a iexible conduit connected withsaid outlet, a nozzle carried by said conduit, a supply conduitconnected with said leX- .ible conduit, and a control valve arranged inone position to establish communication between said outlet and flexibleconduit and to close said supply conduit and operating in anotherpositionto establish communication between said flexible and supplyconduit members and to close said outlet.

' ALPHONSE F. PIEPER.

a closed container having an inlet for fluid under pressure and anoutlet, a flexible tube having a nozzle on its outer end, a valve in- Yterposed between said outlet and the inner end of the flexible tube forestablishing communication between the same,'a fluid supply g conduitleading to said valve, the latter serving to closethe outlet and toestablish communication-between said conduit and said tube, a support onthe container for the nozzle and a' control valve for the nozzleinterposed between the latter and the first mentioned valve.

9. In a dental spray, the combination 0f a Huid container having inletand outlet passages or fluid under pressure, a valve, supl ply anddischarge tubes leading to and from the valve, said valve in oneposition serving to close the outlet passage and to establishcommunication between said tubes and in another position operating toclose the supply tube and to establish communication between theoutletpassage and said discharge tube, a spray head on the outer end of saiddischarge tube includinga nozzle and an arm rigidly connected with thecontainer and adapted to support the spray head when not in use.

10. In a dental spray, a closed liquid holding container, an inletconduit communicating with said container, a flexible tube leading fromthe container, a sprayhead von the outer end of saidtube including anozzle, an arm fixed upon and extending from the container and adaptedto support the spray head with the dischargeend of the nozzle overly-Ving the container,

said armand spray head havingv cooperating-portions serving to preventturning of the head whereby-to`

